Systems thinking is a way to understand all parts of a value chain. Each component is part of the value creation, and its contribution should be defined and known, at least by the counterparts involved in an interface. Unfortunately, components outside the internal system, often called suppliers, are seen as merely costs without connection to the result.
We look at ourselves as a vital part of your system, a component that can increase your ability to deliver better and faster. It also means that we should be removed from the system when an agreed contribution to your business is absent.
Once systems thinking has been accepted as a driver, it may not be that difficult. The benefits can be huge, and everybody wins. You will see the largest gains when you, in your turn, can show your customers that your organization is part of their system.